Complex partial seizure
An epileptic seizure that involves only part of the brain and impairs consciousness; often preceded by a simple partial seizure (aura, or warning).
Comorbidity
A disorder that is present in association with another.
Cognitive
Pertaining to the mental processes of perceiving, thinking, and remembering; used loosely to refer to intellectual functions as opposed to physical functions.
Clonic seizure
An epileptic seizure characterized by jerking movements and involving muscles on both sides of the body.
Bipolar Disorder
A mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
Autonomic Nervous System
The system regulates certain body processes, such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, digestion, metabolism, balance of water, balance of electrolytes and the rate of breathing. This system works automatically (autonomously), without a person’s conscious effort.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Developmental challenges in the ability to communicate and socialize, while also demonstrating repetitive/restrictive patterns of behavior or interests.
Auto-Aggressive Behavior
Self harming behavior.
Aura
A warning before a seizure; a simple partial seizure occuring within seconds before a complex partial or secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizure, or it may occur alone; also a warning before a migraine headache.
Atypical absence seizure
A staring spell characterized by partial impairment of consciousness; often occurs in children with the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; the EEG shows slow (less than 3 per second) spike-and-wave discharges.